Chevy Volt to get 230 mpg rating

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The Chevrolet Volt, GM's electric car that's expected to go on sale in late 2010, is projected to get an estimated 230 miles per gallon, the automaker announced Tuesday.

That exceptionally high government mileage rating could give the Volt a major boost. For the first time, car buyers will easily be able to compare electric cars with ordinary gas-powered cars.

"Having a car that gets triple-digit fuel economy can and will be a game changer for us," said GM CEO Fritz Henderson.

Determining fuel economy for an electric car is a tricky matter, and General Motors (GM, Fortune 500) has been working with the Environmental Protection Agency for years on the issue.

Basically, you will be able to drive the Volt for about 40 miles using the lithium-ion batteries. For those driving less than that, gas mileage is essentially unlimited. It is only after 40 miles that the Volt will start using gas.

"Most Volt drivers will operate on a daily basis without having to use a single drop of gas," said Henderson, saying that three out of four drivers travel 40 miles or less a day.

50 mpg? or 5,000?
Fuel economy for hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius is displayed in the same way as it is for any other gasoline-powered vehicle. It gets 46 mpg, for example, versus 19 mpg for a V-6 Ford Mustang.

That standard works because all the energy used by the Prius ultimately comes from burning gasoline. The Prius just uses that energy more efficiently than other cars do.

The Chevrolet Volt, on other hand, runs on electricity that comes from two sources -- a battery as well as a gasoline engine.

When gasoline is providing the power, the Volt might get as much as 50 mpg. But that mpg figure would not take into account that the car has already gone 40 miles with no gas at all.

So let's say the car is driven 50 miles in a day. For the first 40 miles, no gas is used and during the last 10 miles, 0.2 gallons are used. That's the equivalent of 250 miles per gallon. But, if the driver continues on to 80 miles, total fuel economy would drop to about 100 mpg. And if the driver goes 300 miles, the fuel economy would be just 62.5 mpg.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/11/auto...ion=2009081108

 

read this earlier today. I'm really curious about the volt. It's supposed to launch in 2010 correct?

 

I also read that the 2011 Chevy Orlando may get the same drivetrain. Anyone know what the price tag on these vehicles will be? I hope they make it affordable with in a few years.

 

Boy, talk about spin.
I wonder how many people will believe that. Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that GM is finally getting this thing out - but they better watch how far they stretch the truth... It just may snap back on them.

 

What are you calling BS on? The EPA estimates?

 

After reading this story from more sources, that is GMs number on MPG, with GM using EPA standards for their test. EPA still has to give their numbers which is what will end up on the windows. I have to think it's in the ball park though if they are going to put it out there for bragging rights.

 

What ever it is.... Futch the Camel Jockeys!!! :n uts::

 

Only time will tell what will happen...will the Volt save GM, or kill GM? I personally think though that either way, this car really changes things. I believe cars may be completely different from this point on....

 

It's a solid idea.

Electric motor drives car, gas generator charges battery.

Big questions are:

Battery life and cost of replacement.

Charging infrastructure (i.e. charging stations in parking garage)

Electrical demand if car is a hit (sure, electricity is cheap now, but put more stress on our already stressed grid...)

I wouldn't mind having a Volt myself, but if the rumors I've heard of a $40,000 price tag are true it is far out of reach for me.

 

As Howard Hughs said, "It's the way of the future."